new with a question

bodismom · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: new with a question

hi. i'm new to the boards and i have a two year old weim, Bodi. he was getting patchy spots and was losing tons of hair about 8 months ago. i tried several different foods and eventually started making it myself. i was using a recipe i found online with beef in it. nothing was working. i'm pretty sure he has some kind of red meat allergy.

anywho, i took him to the vet several times where i found that he had a little bit of a low thyroid. so, he's since been on thyroid medicine and a prescription food, Royal Cannin Potato and Duck. the vet said one protein and one carb.

well, he's doing awesome now, however here is my problem. since doing all that, i lost my job (i finally got one again but it took me 10 months!) and am making less than i did before. with his food costing me about $65 for a 28# bag, it's getting harder to keep up with his food and meds. i don't know what i should do as far as food is concerned. i don't want to have to go through all that mess again with his coat and his soft serve poos.

has anyone had any problems like this? it's just so expensive to keep up with. i definitely wouldn't take him off the thyroid medicine or anything like that, i'm just wondering if there are similar foods out there that may be less expensive. of course, i may just not know about food and that may be a good price. i have no clue. all i know is that's a big chunk of change on my budget for dog food.

any suggestions? thanks!

LunaBrown · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

The first food that came to mind was Natural Balance... I have done ALOT of food homework for my dog, and this is a good food with limited ingredients : http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/PandD.html

It's readily available... looks like it's $45.99 on Petco's website for the 30# bag, which isn't too bad.

Most of the premium dog foods I've come across are all at least $40 for the big (26 or 30# bag) - some are as much as $65 or more! Shocked

Good luck with your food issues... money (and lack thereof!) stinks! I've been feeding my dog Wellness CORE for a few months now with great results and I'm currently looking for something that will have as good of ingredients and hopefully agree with her for less money.... it's out of hand how expensive it is to take good care of our babies!

weimdawgs · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't mess with his diet if it is at all possible. If he is doing well with what you are doing, try to stay with it. $65 for a 28lb is expensive, but it's working for him.

LunaBrown · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

The ingredients are VERY close:

Royal Canin:
Dehydrated potato, duck by product meal, natural flavors, potato protien, coprah oil, duck, anchovy oil, soya bean oil, L-tyrosine, DL-methionin, salt, taurine, vitamins [dl-alpha tocopherol (source of vitamin E), inositol, niacin, L-ascorbyl-2polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), D-calcium pantothenate, biotin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) riboflavin (vitamin B2) thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A acetate, folci acid, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement], choline chloride, Trace minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite], preserved with tatrual tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid.

Natural Balance:
Potatoes, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil (preserved with natural mixed tocopherols), Potato Fiber, Natural Flavor, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Taurine, L-Lysine, L-Carnitine, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid.

samckinner · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject:

I am using Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Fish. Grain Free. Like it so far.

Sam and Haus

bodismom · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

wow! the ingredients are really similar! i would love to keep feeding him the food he's getting now, but it's really too expensive for me now. i've cut back on everything i can. but i want to make sure he's gonna be getting the nutrients he needs without adding too much extra that might hurt his belly.

thanks for the info!

scrbear11 · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:19 am Post subject:

Hypothyroidism in itself can cause skin problems. Lots of them... I think you are safe to change his diet, as long as you stick with something similar- like the Natural Balance duck and potato. The medication should keep his skin OK.

bodismom · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject:

that's what i was thinking too. i mean, i know if it ain't broke you shouldn't fix it, but my wallet is broke for real. lol. i think he will do alright as long as i can slowly make the transition. and, he's a tough little dude. i mean, while the doctor has told me no treats, only his food, nothing else, bodi has gotten into several things on his own. i mean, the boy is a carbaholic. we definitely keep the kitchen barricaded, but when he happens to slip by, good lord, he's a counter surfer. he's had several loaves of bread, bags of cat treats, tortilla chips, you name it. if it's anywhere on the counter, he's eaten it. just last week he twosied out a cat treat BAG! so, i think he'll be fine. just sucks having to worry about it. i mean, he used to get all kinds of treats and everything (not table food) but now he doesn't have anything but his food. probably why he binges when he gets to anything. lol. he's a rascal.

LunaBrown · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 6:59 pm Post subject:

Natural Balance makes Duck & Sweet Potato treats too... Smile

bodismom · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

oh my gosh. i have to get this stuff. i hope i can find it close by.

scrbear11 · Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:31 am Post subject:

Petsmart and Petco both carry Natural Balance. Good stuff. I think I'm going to give Zehen a try on it.

cgmayeaux · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject:

I cant find the Natural Balance at petsmart!!! Only petco...and I don't care much for petco. Anyway, Bailey eats Nat balance fish and sweet potato. Solid poops, and skin getting better.

bodismom · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

well our petsmart doesn't carry it but the petco does. it's not super close by, but i'm gonna get a back some before his food runs out so that i can do the mix and ween thing. i hope it works! fingers crossed! Very Happy

and i'm definitely going for some of those treats.

LunaBrown · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject:

bodismom · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

well, i finally got to the petco to get the new food and some of the treats, too! so far, i'm almost finished getting rid of the old and giving him only the new food. i will say, he did not enjoy having something different at first, but he's warming up to it, though. his belly has been alright with it. he wanted a little grass but he's doing better. i'll update again when i see how it's gonna go. thanks so much for the help! it's nice to be able to save a good $15 for four more pounds of food. yay!